Things are changing at Creative Art Furniture, as Chris and Stephen embark on a new chapter with their business. After June 30th our Attleboro location will close, but we're only downsizing. Click here to learn the details!

CREATING TREE SPIRITS

I will try to take you through how I create one of my tree spirits. It starts with a trip to a local stump dump.

On this day I did not expect to bring home a stump. It was suppose to be more of a scouting trip. When I found this particular stump, I had to have it and wasn't sure that the stump pile wouldn't be sent through a giant grinder by the time I returned. Luckily when I go on hikes I always have a rope tied around my waist.

I was able to turn the stump into a backpack with my rope, leaving my hands free to carry other choice pieces of wood.

It was a long walk and I was glad to get home. However my new stump was worth the carry.

Next the dirt and gravel must be washed out of the root mass.

After the tree root is cleaned, I choose one where, hopefully with the aid of the roots characteristics, the structure of a face is evident.

Next I lay out my chisels for easy access.

The spirit face is sketched onto the log.

A basic outline is chiseled out.

Chiseling continues as a face takes shape.

Oops!!!

At this point a dye grinder lends a hand and then the face outline is sketched again.